Printing device and flat stackable elements



Feb. 26, 1963 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,078,795

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAI sIAcKABLE ELEMENTS Filed April 21, 195s' fr sheets-sheet 1 Feb- 26, 1963 w. RlTzl-:RFELD ETAL 3,078,795

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed April 2l, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,rg 7 e of s a xxxxxxxxxxxkx O O O O O/\O O O O O O O O QAO O G Hg@ a 35% w l 7v Feb. 26, 1963 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,078,795

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed April 21, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 mi @um @l nuilll||| 1 l l l l Firma Heinrich Schmidt Berlin Charlottenburg An der Havel 7 0 OOQOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOK NN @u lmfenog:

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PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed April 21, 1959 'I sheets-sheer, 4

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PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Filed'April 21, 1959 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 26, 1963 w. RrrzERl-ELD ETAL 3,078,795

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT sTAcxABLE ELEMENTS Filed April 21, 1959 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 @QSMW Feb- 26, 1963 w. RlTzERFELD ETAL 3,078,795

PRINTING DEVICE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed April 21, 1959 @Venta/5' INS iinited states Patent Sartenes PRENTENG DEVHCE AND FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENTS Wiiheim Ritzerfeld, Schoriezner Allee 14, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzensbader Strasse 2l, Bedin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,880 Claims priority, appiication Germany Fei). 16, 1956 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-369) This application is a continuation-impart of our prior copending application Serial No. 640,120, tiled February 14, 1957, now Patent No. 2,919,640.

The present invention refers to printing forms which constitute or are part of individual flat stackable elements to be consecutively fed into a printing device for consecutively printing the contents of the individual printing forms on individual imprint-receiving elements fed separately and consecutively into the printing device. A specific example of this type of printing device is an addressing machine.

The invention also refers to fiat stackable elements adapted to be used as printing forms or to carry the latter so as to be consecutively fed into a printing dev'ce.

It is one main object of this invention to provide for a fiat stackable element which can serve as a printing form or can be attached to a printing for-rn, and which includes means for interengagernent with feeding means forming part of a printing device, so that each of a plurality of such elements may be fed singly from a stack of elements to ti e printing means of a printing device.

it is another object of this invention to provide for a hat stackable element of the type set forth and comprising at least two layers of material, one of which includes the means for interengagement with a feeding device while the other layer serves to protect a at eiement of identical type superimposed on this second layer from being engaged by the feeding means engaging the first-mentioned element by separating the superimposed fiat element from the feeding means.

With the above objects in View, a fiat stackabie element according to the invention includes a separating layer and a projecting shoulder on one side of the separating iayer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from the separating layer so that the feeding member is separated by the separating layer from another identical stackable element which is in a stack of these eiernents superimposed immediately upon the separating layer of the first-mentioned element.

In another embodiment of the invention, a printing form is attached to a supporting layer with a portion of the printing form covering an opening in the supporting layer so that an edge of this opening is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member and said portion of the printing form serves as separating layer, while another opening in the supporting layer located opposite to the printing portion of the printing form makes the latter accessible through the second opening for carrying out the printing operation.

In still another embodiment of the invention, flat stackable elements of the general type set forth include means forming a shoulder projecting from one layer of materiai forming part of the flat element so that this shoulder is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member while the layer of material is the separating layer.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a printing form card in plan View, carrying reproduceable lettering in reverse;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along line A-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view ofa printing element with a printing form attached thereto;

FG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line C-D of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a card having perforations along its edges and a printing form attached thereto;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line E--F of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a card having perforations along its edges and a printing form attached thereto along two opposite edges;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along line G-H of FIG. 7;

FIG, 9 is also a section taken along line G-H of FIG. 7, however, showing a permanent printing form added as a third layer;

FIG. 10 is a Section through an envelope with its iiap partly open;

FIG. 1l is a similar section through an envelope with its flap in closed position;

' FIG. l2 is a section through an envelope with its iiap wide open and including a slot for feeding;

FIG. 13 is a section through an envelope having a strip of material attached for forming a shoulder;

FIG. 14 s a section through a flat printing element with a strip of material attached for forming a shoulder;

FIG. l5 is a cross-section taken along line J-K of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a printing element showing reproduceable lettering in reverse and forming an integral unit with a protective layer;

FIG. 17 is a cross-section taken along line L--M of FIG. 16; t

FIG. 18 is a fractional side view of the device illustrating the feeding means for printing elements according to FlGS. 1 to 9 and 14;

j FIG. 19 is a fractional side view of the feeding Ameans as provided for envelopes or the like according to FlGS.

I 10 to 13;

FiG. 20 is a fractional :section of the device, the sec tion being taken along line P-Q of FlG. 19 for illustrating details of the feeding means for envelopes;

FG. 21 is a plan view of a printing elementl including openings adapted to be engaged by feeding means and in addition including separate openings adapted to be engaged by clamping means for holding the printing element on a printing drum;

PEG. 22 is a cross-section through the printing element according to FIG. 2l;

FIG. 23 its a plan View of a printing element including an opening with a loose flap;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view through the printing element shown in FIG. 23.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated by FIGS. l and 2, a printing element for printing addresses comprises a card 1 which constitutes the printing form since it carries reproduceable letters 2 in reverse. It is provided with a cutout or opening 3 which is covered by a cover 4 attached to the card 1 as shown at 5. As will be described later, an edge of the opening 3 is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member 50 from the side opposite to the cover 4 which serves as separating layer preventing the feed member 50 from engaging the adjacent printing element in a stack of elements. Therefore, whenever the feed member 50 engages one printing element of a stack, only this one element will be removed from the stack and fed to the printing device of which the feed member 50 is a part.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another printing element 6 constituting an addressing card to which the printing form with reversed reproductive lettering 8 is attached at 7. The card or support layer 6 has an opening or cutout 9 which is so located that the printing portion 2 of the printing form is not obstructed by the material of the card 6. This offers the advantage that the lettering 2 does not rub against an adjacent or following printing form during the automatic feeding operation. During the actual printing operation the imprint-receiving sheet is pressed against the printing form in such a way that the reproductive area 2 contacts the sheet through the opening 9 for malcing the desired imprint. The card or support layer 6 has two additional cutouts or openings 10 which are covered by a portion of the printing form 8. For this purpose the printing form 8 is cut in four places marked 11 so that aps 12 are obtained which are pulled from the side of the card 6 where the printing form 8 is attached, to the other side and folded down so as to be attached at 13 to the card 6 and to cover the openings 10. 'Ille two openings 10 are adapted to be engaged by two feed members 50 which will ybe described further below. By providing two openings 10 and two feed members the printing element 6 is sure to be main tained in straight position during the feeding operation. It should be noted that the cementing areas 7 and 13, respectively, holding different edges of the printing form 8, are located on opposite sides of the support layer 6.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a printing element comprising a. card or support layer 14 having a number of perforations along its outside edges and a cutout or opening 15. A printing form 16 with reverse reading reproductive lettering 2 is attached by cementing at 18 to the card 14 so that the lettering 2 is opposite the opening 15 and accessible through this opening during the printing operation. The card 14 has a second opening 1,7 which is adapted to be engaged by a feeding member 50. An extension 19 of the printing form 16 is pulled through the opening from one side of the card to the other and spread over the latter so as to cover the opening 17. In Vthis manner the cover 19 serves as a separating layer to separate the feed member 50 when engaging the opening 17, from engaging the adjacent printing element. lI'he free end 19 of the printing form is purposely not attached to the card 14 so that the cover may yield a little when the feed member 5t) engages the element. It is generally advisable to attach printing forms with reverse lettering only at one side, i.e. along one edge facing in the feeding direction whereby a satisfactory imprint is favored and wrinkling of the printing form is avoided'.

The use of cards with `marginal perforations as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as supporting layers of printing elements offers the advantage that whenever certain printing elements are needed out of a great plurality thereof, the selection of specific cards carrying a specic lettering, is greatly simplified.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a card or supporting layer 20 also having marginal perforations and having attached to it a printing form 21 carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering and attached by cementing along two opposite edges 22. The card has an opening or cutout 23 adapted to be engaged by a feed member 50 while the printing form 21 acts as separating layer for separating the feed member 50 from an adjacent printing element.

The same type of a card 20 as illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8 may also Abe provided, `as shown in FIG. 9 with a permanent printing form 24 which may consist of a paper foil 24a which in turn is connected with a metal foil 24h. This metal foil may be treated by an electrolytic process, but instead of the just-mentioned combination of paper and metal foil other printing foils made only of metal or synthetic resin may be used which may be treated for lithographie reproduction.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate in cross-section envelopes 25 and 26, respectively. In the case of FIG. 10, where the flap 27 of the envelope is partly open, the envelope, being also a flat stackable element, can be fed by means of a feeding member 67 engaging the envelope by reaching into the space between the layers 25a and the flap 27. In this case, the flap 27 constitutes the projecting shoulder adapted to `be engaged by the feeding means. In the case of FIG. 1l where the fiap 23 is folded tight against the envelope 26 the free edge of the ap 23 serves as shoulder for engagement by the feeding means.

FIGS. 12. and 13 show also envelopes 29 and 3i), respectively, with their flaps 3l, 32, respectively, stretched out in fully open position. In order to make these enwelopes adapted for automatic feeding, the envelope 29 has a cutout or opening 33 in one of its two layers so that the opening 33 is adapted to be engaged by a feed member 50. When the envelope is closed, the flap 31 covers the hole 33. In the case of FIG. 13 a separate strip of material 34 is attached to one layer of the envelope so that one edge of the strip 34 constitutes a shoulder adapted to ybe engaged lby a feed member. When the envelope 30 is closed the free edge of the ap 32 will fit exactly against the second edge of the strip 34.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a printing form 35 carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering and has attached to it a strip of material 36, cemented at its two opposite ends 37 so as to constitute a shoulder adapted to ybe e11- gaged by a feed member 50 which may enter Ibetween the strip 36 and the printing form 35 so that the latter acts as a separating layer separating the feed member from an adjacent printing element. It should be noted that envelopes may also be provided with a strip 36 as shown in FIG. 15.

In the case of FIGS. 16 `and 17 a printing form anda separating layer are one integral piece. The printing form 38 is provided on one side with a reverse reading reproductive lettering 2 and is folded back upon itself -along the edge 39. The folded back portion has a large opening 41 which is located so that the lettering Z is `accessible through the opening 41. The folded yback portion which contains the opening 41 serves at the same time as the separation layer of this printing element lbecause -it covers two cutouts or openings 40 for the feeding member in the first portion of this element. In this embodiment the reproductive printing surface of the print- Iing form 38 is particularly Well protected against rubbing during -feeding operations lbecause the printing surface is located at the bottom of the opening 41.

It should Ibe understood that the essential features of the various printing elements and envelopes as examples of flat stackable elements are more or less interchangeable and can be varied to suit prevailing conditions. In particular, the position of the means offering a shoulder adapted to ybe engaged by a feed member, with respect to the reproductive printing surface of the printing form may be varied without departing from the basic idea of this invention. In certain cases the printing elements or other flat elements may be stacked with the above-mentioned shoulder located on the lower side of each individual element so that the feed member has to engage from underneath and remove from the stack always the lowermost element. rIn certain other cases the arrangement may be reversed so that the feed member removes from the stack always 4the uppermost element.

It is particularly of advantage to use yaddress cards having the features described above i.e. a feeding shoulder or an opening with an edge constituting a feeding shoulder, and a second layer serving as a separating layer in the feeding operation, said cards `being also provided with a reverse reading reproductive lettering. Such lettering can be placed on such a card directly for instance iby typing with interposition of a hectagraphic ink sheet; otherwise a different type of reverse reading printing form may `be attached to such an address card to form a unit. In this case the separate printing form `might be either of the hectographic type or it may be aprinting `form re.-A

quiring inking in the printing process and from which the lettering is reproduced directly or indirectly according to the lithographic process.

It vshould be noted also, that printing elements according to this invention and `with the lmeans making them adapted for being engaged by a feed member of a printing device may -be made of comparatively thin material so that substantially larger quantities of these elements can be stacked without creating a stack of excessive height. A magazine of given size can hold many more of these elements than was possible with known devices in this class. For instance, a single layer of material used for the printing element may be only .0104 thick.

As far as the feeding of imprint-receiving elements, particularly envelopes, is concerned, known feeding sysrtems were based on the use of rather `complicated and expensive suction-type feeding means because no other means for reliable feeding -were known to the art. On the basis of the present invention, even the just-mentioned type of elements can be fed reliably with very simple means. Even airmail envelopes of thin paper material can be handled satisfactorily.

l GS. 18 t-o 2O illustrate an automatic feeding device for instance for address cards 14 which is shown in greater detail in FG. 18, the address cards being shown for iustance in FIG. 5. A printing machine may further comprise an automatic feeding section for imprint-receiving elements, for instance of envelopes 25 (see FlG. 10), pay envelopes or the like. Address cards, for instance those marked le in FIG. 5, are fed automatically in the following manner: During rotation of some part of the printing device, say the drum, not shown, a reciprocating movement of 91 of the feeding device is produced. The feeding device is movable along a guide rod 48 mounted underneath the bottom i9 of a magazine and comprises a feed member 5t) that is turnable in a direction transverse to the guide rod i8 and is backed by a spring cl3 tending to move the member 5@ into its operative position in which it projects with its engaging tip 5l through a slot 94 into the magazine slightly above the inner surface of the bottom 49. If a stack of address cards i4 is stacked in the magazine as shown in FlG. 18, the en gaging tip 5l engages the opening i7 of the lowerrnost card or printing element le' so that during the feeding stroke of the feed member Sii this lowermost printing element le is moved through an outlet slot '95 of lthe magazine towards the printing device.

During rotation, some part of the printing device, say the drum, not shown, causes lever o?, pivoted on pin 63 to oscillate which movement is converted into a reciprocating movement of the feeding device along a guide bar 6:3' mounted underneath a plate 66 forming the bottom of a magazine 7S. The feeding device comprises a flat feed member a7 which is adapted to engage the lowerrnost envelope 2S of a stack thereof placed in the magazine 78, and more particularly the forward edge of the member 67 enters into the space between the partly opone-:l 27 of the lowermost envelope 25 so that during the feeding stroke of the feeding device the lov/ermost envelope is moved out of the magazine 7S through an outlet slot 99 towards the printing device and into engagement with a pair of feed rollers 6d, 69.

The stack of address cards or printing elements i4 in the magazine 49, and likewise the envelopes or imprintreceiving elements 2S in the magazine 7S are Weighted down by plates 79 and Sli, respectively. The magazines or trays 49 and 7d, respectively, are removably attached to the printing device, for example, by threaded means, such as shown at S5 in FlG. 20.

FiG. i8 shows the automatic feeding device for the address cards ist or printing elements in an enlarged scale. The engaging hooloshaped tip 5l of the feed member d@ is forced by a spring 93 through a slot 9d in the bottom plate of the magazine a9 into an opening i7 of the lowermost card 1li in the magazine, as was already mentioned above. The second layer .19 of the card 14 acts as a separating layer and prevents the adjacent or superimposed card lid from being taken along by tip 51 when the lowcrmost card is moved out of the magazine by feed member Sil whose tip Sil engages the edge of opening l?. The height of the slot forming the outlet from the magazine 4S? is adjustable so that at any time it permits only one printing element lis to pass through the slot 95. When the feeding device starts its return stroke, the engaging tip 5l of the member is guided by its inclined rear face engaging the edge of opening i7 to turn feed member d@ until tip el moves out of the opening ll'7 of the just-fed card and swings slightly downward so that it may slide along the rear portion of the lowermost card 1d and then along the surface of the adacent or superimposed card le until it can move up again under the action of the spring 93 to pass into the hole i7 of the just mentioned next card which is now the lowermost card. ln case conditions are different, the tip 5l may slide past the opening l? during the last portion of the return stroke and move into the opening i7 only shortly after the beginning of the next feeding stroke.

FlG. 19 illustrates the automatic feeding device for imprint-receiving elements or envelopes 25 or the like at an enlarged scale. For the purpose of obtaining a faultless feeding operation, the feed member 67 is made turnable. A spring 96 forces the member 67 against the lower layer of the lowermost envelope 25 and thereby facilitates the engagement of the member 67 by entering into the space between the partly opened llap Z7 of the envelope 25'. A roller 97 mounted on the member 67 engages a slanting bar so as to roll along the latter while the feeding device together with the member 67 travels within a slot in the plate 66, the member 67 being controlled in such a manner that its forward end may pass through the outlet slot 99 of the magazine 73. The height of the slot 99 is to be chosen in such a manner that at any time only one element or envelope 25 can pass through it. The second layer of the envelope 25 (see FIG. ld) acts as separating layer and prevents an adjacent or superimposed envelope 25 from being taken along While the lowermost envelope is being fed. After tie feeding stroke is completed the member @7 moves baci; into its starting position.

As is shown in PEG. 2G, the envelopes 25 are forced by strips itil) and lill arranged laterally in the magazine 78 and by the weight plate dit to bend or bulge downwardly. The adjustable front plate im of the magazine 7 S is shaped at its lower edge in accordance with the above mentioned bending or bulging of the envelopes 25 and is provided with two pr Jiections which determine the height of the slot 99. By these means a satisfactory turning down of the iiap 27 of the envelope into an open position is assui-ed.

As is illustrated by FlGS. 2l and 22, the address card or printing element lilo is provided with two cutouts or openings which are located near to the forward edge of the card and parallel with each other, but outside the area occupied by the printing form lllS carrying a reverse reading reproductive lettering. in addition, the card ldd is provided with two cutouts or openings lttz which serve for feeding the card and are adapted to be engaged by a feed member as described above. These openings are covered by the printing form M38 on the side on which the printing is done.

FiGS. 23 and 24 show a printing element i665: comprising two layers of cardboard i3d' and lo held in fixed relative position. rl`he printing element is provided with two apertures lti7 placed near and parallel to a leading edge littand near side edges les" and ido of element lilou. Apertures lll are adapted to be engaged by a holding member during a printing operation. Printing element Edda is provided with a number of perforations lei for identifying purposes so that a selected card can be easily separated from a stack by forming hereon suit- 7 able notches la7. The cardboard layer F is provided with a iirst opening 137 adapted to receive a feeding member when placed into a feeding magazine. This feeding element engages one element idea at a time and feeds it to the printing machine.

A part 13S of the layer X36 is cut on three sides adjacent to the opening 137. Part 3.38 is formed in a press so that it is spaced from the separating layer 135 and forms a flap on the edge of the opening 137 engaged during transport of the printing form Fido by the feeding member.

A cutout 3.40 is formed in the separating layer i315. An aligned cutout 17.39 is formed in the layer 13d. The opening i139 is equal in Width to the opening 140 but is somewhat extended lengthwise to provide marginal portions 142 and 143 of the layer L35 projecting into cutout 139. The layer i355 is covered at marginal portions M2 and M3 with a heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive so that the printing form tl can be cemented onto these marginal portions. Form S carries a reverse reading reproductive lettering. It should be noted that there is no cutout in separatin.or layer 135 in the region of the opening 137 and the flap i313.

In a printing device, part of which is shown in FIGS. 18, 19, and 20, a feed member Si? feeds the cards 106 or Edda, as the case may be, towards the printing device and into the path of a gripper, preferably hook-shaped, which is mounted in the printing apparatus, in a manner similar to the one described above. Flap 138 is loose and spaced from layer 135 so as to allow the feeding member Si) to enter into the space between tiap 13S and layer 135.

Printing element 106:1 is preferably produced in the following manner: The two layers 135, 135 or sheets of cardboard serving as supports for the printing form 108 are covered on the surfaces which confront each other with a heat-activated adhesive. This adhesive is of a quality and composition so that, when it is heated to a temperature of about 80 to 100 C. while the two layers are pressed together for a selected time, the sheets of cardboard will be held together permanently when cooled to room temperature. This adhesive is, however, ineifective if it is brought into contact with a surface not covered by such an adhesive.

The sheet 136 is not adhesively bound to sheet 135 in the area of iiap 138. From FIG. 24, it can also be seen that the tiap i355 is spaced from sheet 135.

A preferred composition for cementing printing form 10S into the opening 139 of layer 136', so that the printing form can print through opening 140 of layer 135, is a heat-activated adhesive of a 10 to 20% solution of a polyvinyl acetate in an ethylester. A preferred composition of the material comprising the printing form 108 is art paper, that is paper produced out of wood-free material, calendered and covered by barium sulfate and a casein adhesive in order to obtain a dense structure and a smooth surface. Papers of this type are used for tine screen autotype reproduction.

When this art paper is pressed onto adhesive covered portions 142 and 143 for a period of 5 to l0 seconds and at a temperature of 100 to 120 C., the art paper will be cemented to layer 135 of printing form 105:1. The art paper itself does not require covering with a layer of adhesive.

It should be noted that in the element 106 the printing portion of the form 108 is depressed into the pertaining opening, so that the lettering is protected.

It is to be understood that the printing form according to the invention can be constructed and used in various ways. The feeding of stacked printing elements is carried out most efficiently by the automatic feeding device described and adapted to feed the individual printing elements of the type disclosed in consecutive order. The imprint-receiving elements can be fed in a similar manner automatically and consecutively from a stack and in timed relationship with the feeding of the printing elements and with the rotation of the printing drum. However, it is likewise possible to feed the imprint-receiving elements by hand.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an addressing machine and in liat printing and imprint-receiving elements, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or speciiic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

vi/'hat is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A flat stackable element including a printing form and a supporting layer superimposed thereto in face-toface contact and having at least one first opening bounded by a shoulder adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from said printing form, said supporting layer and said printing form being attached to each other at portions spaced from said shoulder, said printing form having a main portion having a printed surface and being surrounded by a marginal portion covering said first opening, and said supporting layer having a second opening opposite said main portion so that said printing surface of said main portion is accessible for printing through said second opening and that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said printing` form from another stackable element superimposed upon said printing form.

2. A flat stackable element including a printing form and a supporting layer superimposed thereto in face-toface contact and having at least one tirst opening having a shoulder adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from said printing form,` said supporting layer and said printing form being attached to each other at portions spaced from said shoulder, said printing form having a main portion having a printed surface and being surrounded by a marginal portion covering said first opening, and said supporting layer having a second opening opposite said main portion so that said printing surface of said main portion is accessible for printing through said second opening and that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said printing form from another stackable element superimposed upon said printing form, said supporting layer having at least one third opening located outside the area covered by said printing form and adapted to be engaged by a holding member for being held during printing operation,

3. A flat stackable element as set forth in claim l, wherein said printing form is attached to one side of said supporting layer, the reproductive surface portion of said printing form facing away from said supporting layer and the reproductive portion of said printing form being depressed into said second opening so that said reproductive portion is aligned with the other side of said separating layer.

4. A flat stackable element including a printing form and a supporting layer superimposed thereto in face-toface contact and having at least one first opening having an edge including a flap spaced from the side remote from the printing form and adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from said printing form said layer and said printing form being attached to each other at portions spaced from said flap, said printing form having a main portion having a printed surface and being surrounded by a marginal portion covering said first opening, and said supporting layer having a second opening opposite said main portion so that said printing surface of said main portion is accessible for printing through said second opening and that the feed member is separated by a loose portion of said printing form from another stackable element superimposed upon said printing form.

5. A flat stackable element including a printing form and a supporting layer superimposed thereto in face-toface contact and having at least one rst opening having an edge including a flap spaced from the side remote from the printing form and adapted to be engaged by a feeding member from the side remote from said printing form said layer and said printing form being attached to each other at portions spaced from said flap, said printing form having a main portion having a printed surface and being surrounded by a marginal portion covering said first opening, and said supporting layer having a second opening opposite said main portion so that said printing surface of said main portion is accessible for printing through said second opening and that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said printing form from another stackabie element superimposed upon said printing form, said supporting layer having at least one third opening located outside the area covered by said printing form and adapted to be engaged by a holding member for being held during printing operation.

6. A flat stackable element including at least two layers of material superimposed to each other, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion adapted to be engaged by a feeding member said layers being attached to each other at portions spaced from said edge portion so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout or" said other layer.

7. A flat stackable element including at least two layers of sheet material having at least part of the adjoining areas thereof covered by a heat activated adhesive and being held xed to each other by said heat activated adhesive at spaced attached portions, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a ilap spaced from said attached portions and from said separating layer and adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout of said other layer.

8. A ilat stackable element including at least two layers of sheet material having at least part of the adjoining areas thereof covered by a heat activated adhesive and being held iixed to each other by said heat activated adhesive at spaced attached portions, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a flap spaced from said attached portions and from said separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout of said other layer, said stackable element having formed therein an aperture outl@ side the area covered by said printing form adapted to be engaged by gripper means for being held during a printing operation.

9. A fiat stackable element including at least two layers of sheet material having at least part of the adjoining areas thereof covered by a heat activated adhesive and being held -xed to each other by said heat activated adhesive at spaced attached portions, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a ap spaced from said attached portions and from said separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout of said other layer, said stackable element having formed therein perforations outside the area covered by said printing form for identifying the same.

l0. A dat stackable element including at least two layers of sheet material having at least part of the ad- .joining areas thereof covered by a heat activated adhesive and being held fixed to each other by said heat activated adhesive at spaced attached portions, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a ilap spaced from said attached portions and from said separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout of said other layer, said stackable element including a leading edge portion and two side edge portions and having two apertures aligned in direction and parallel to said leading edge portion and near said edge portions and said leading edge portion, said apertures being adapted to be engaged by gripper means during a printing operation.

l1. A hat stackable element including at least two layers of sheet material having at least part of the adjoining areas thereof covered by a heat activated adhesive and being held xed to each other by said heat activated adhesive at spaced attached portions, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a flap spaced from said attached portions and from said separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and a printing form attached to said portions of said separrating layer within said cutout of said other layer, said stackable element including a leading edge portion and two side edge portions and having two apertures aligned in direction and parallel to said leading edge portion and near said edge portions and said leading edge portion, said apertures being adapted to be engaged by gripper means during a printing operation, said stackable element having formed therein perforations and a notch outside the area covered by said printing form for identifying the same.

12. A flat stackable element including at least two layers of material superimposed to each other, one of said layers being a separating layer and the other layer having an opening formed therein, said opening having an edge portion including a flap spaced from said separating layer adapted to be engaged by a feeding member, said layers being attached to each other at portions spaced from said edge portion, so that the feeding member is separated by a loose portion of said separating layer from other stackable elements superimposed upon the stackable element, said two layers having superimposed cutouts, the cutout of said separating layer being smaller than the cutout of said other layer so that portions of said separating layer project into said cutout of said other layer; and

12 a printing form attached to said portions of said separating layer within said cutout of said other layer.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,015 Oliver May 8, 1928 1,909,913 Elliott May 16, 1933 2,165,748 Elliott July 11, 1939 2,576,972 Sherman Dec. 4, 1951 2,615,392 Sauerman Oct. 28, 1952 2,809,032 Krag Oct. 8, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 647,679 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1950 

1. A FLAT STACKABLE ELEMENT INCLUDING A PRINTING FORM AND A SUPPORTING LAYER SUPERIMPOSED THERETO IN FACE-TOFACE CONTACT AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE FIRST OPENING BOUNDED BY A SHOULDER ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A FEEDING MEMBER FROM THE SIDE REMOTE FROM SAID PRINTING FORM, SAID SUPPORTING LAYER AND SAID PRINTING FORM BEING ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER AT PORTIONS SPACED FROM SAID SHOULDER, SAID PRINTING FORM HAVING A MAIN PORTION HAVING A PRINTED SURFACE AND BEING SURROUNDED BY A MARGINAL PORTION COVERING SAID FIRST OPENING, AND SAID SUPPORTING LAYER HAVING A SEC- 